The nation’s favourite Christmas Carol revealed

Britain’s favourite Christmas carol has been revealed, and it’s the first festive tune ever played over the radio.

Despite being French, O Holy Night topped the chart for the 12th time in the last 15 years - beating livelier tunes like Ding Dong Merrily on High.

O Holy Night came top in the annual search for the Nation’s Favourite Carol, by popular classical music station Classic FM - more than 100 years after it became the first Christmas song to be broadcast on the radio.

The carol is at number one for the second time since 2013, overtaking Silent Night which spent the previous two years at the top.

Despite it being French, O Holy Night ruled the airwaves from 2003 to 2013 - where it came top for a whopping ten years running.

Pop icon Myleene Klass said: “My favourite carol is O Holy Night.

“I think the melody is so wonderfully magical and the song completely captures the spirit of Christmas.”

Before that, O Holy Night ruled the chart for 11 years from 2003 to 2013 inclusive.

It was composed by Adolphe Adam, in 1847, using lyrics taken from the French poem ‘Midnight, Christians.’

It reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity’s redemption.

In this year’s top 20, the highest climber is Ding Dong! Merrily on High.

The cheery carol, by English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward, and soared up four places to number 12.

The biggest faller is O Little Town of Bethlehem, dropping three places to number ten.

More than 10,000 people cast their votes online at ClassicFM.com to choose their favourite carol.

It is believed that O Holy Night was the very first carol to be played on the radio, because it first hit the airwaves on Christmas Eve - in 1906.

On Christmas Eve 1906, a Canadian inventor called Reginald Fessenden broadcast the first medium wave radio programme, which included him playing O Holy Night on the violin.

The countdown of the top 30 carols will be broadcast in a special Christmas Day programme - The Nation’s Favourite Carol - presented by John Brunning from 1pm on Classic FM.

Presenter Brunning said: “Carols have been part of our Christmas celebrations for hundreds of years and this year’s poll proves they remain as popular as ever. The nation has chosen a wonderful carol as its favourite.

“Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night has an anthemic quality and majestic melody with lyrics which tell the Christmas message about the promise of redemption.

“As the first piece of music ever to be broadacst on the radio, it’s fitting that, once again, it should top our annual chart on Classic FM, the home of Christmas music.”

But not everybody says O Holy Night is their favourite carol.

Gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh said: “It has to be Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.

“It has a soaring tenor line that I love, and when singing it with a full orchestra the last verse is wonderfully uplifting and celebratory. For me, it embodies the true spirit of a Christmas.”